Starter for automobile-engines.



H. MASON. STARTER FOR AUTOMOBILE ENGINES." I APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31.1909. 1,000,929, Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

v I s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H. MASON.

STARTER FORAUTOMOBILE ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED AUG.,31. 1909.

1,000,929, PatentedAug. 15, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E \\l i s I I I .1 I i. /4 I" H. MASON. STARTER FOE AUTOMOBILE ENGINES.

APPLIOATIQN FILED AUG. 31 1909.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

3 SHEE' I'SSHEET 3.

UTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY MASON, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

STARTER FOB AUTOMOBILE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 15, 1911.

Application filed August 31, 1909. Serial No. 515,469.

vide means for delivering charges of a suit-.

able explosive mixture to the engine, comprising a :four-way valveddistributer connected by pipes with the several engines, and

means for delivering said mixture under pressure to said dis-tributer,the valves of which are operated by a cam connected with the operatingshaft of a rotary timer, which is connected with .the cam shaft of theengines, the opening of the valves of said distributer being so timedrelatively to the timer, that immediately before said timer closes acircuit between the battery and the spark plug ofan engine, the valveconnectng the distributer with said engine is opened, permitting acharge of the explosive mixture to be delivered to the engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a' suitable clutchconnection between the valve-operating cam and the timer shaft, andmeans for disen aging said clutch, when the timer is turned to advancethespark under the increasing speed of the engine,-

whereby the valves are renderedinoperative;

These objects are obtained by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which: I j

Figure 1, is aplan view illustrating the front portion of an automobileand the ,ap-

, plication of the improved starting device thereto. Fig. 2, is anelevation of the dash board, showing the arrangement of the partsconstituting the invention. Fig. 3,.is a horizontal sectional viewthrough the valved explosive miXture-distributer. 4, is averticalsectional view through the distributer and timer, showing aclutch mechanism for connecting the valve-operating rotary cam andtimer, and means for disconnecting the clutches. elevation of the valve,showing one of th track cams thereon, which are engaged b; Wheels,carried by the timer, whereby the Fig.

Fig; 5, is a sidh dash boa-rd, and apipe 22 extends from said valve islifted to disengage the clutches, when the timer is turned. Fig. 6, is aside elevation of the clutch secured upon the shaft of the rotary valvecam. Fig. 7, is a side elevation of the clutch carried by the timershaft. Figs. 8' and 9 are planviews respectively of the two clutchmembers.

- Fig. 10, is a side elevation showing thetwo clutch members in positionto engage. Fig.

11, is a similar view showing the clutch members in engagement. Fig. 12,is a horizontal, sectional view through the sight fee-d cap for theexplosive mixture. Fig. 13, is a vertical, sectional view through thesame. Fig. 1 1, is a side elevation, partly in section,

illustrating the outlet valve connected with.

the storagetank. Fig. 15- is a plan "view of the camturning knob. Fig.16, is a horizontal sectional view through the timer, and

Fig. 17 is a diagrammaticview illustrating the operation of the improvedstarter.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral '1, designates theframe of an automobile}, 2, the radiator; 3, the engine casings; 4, thecrankshaft; 5, the fly wheel;

and 6, the cam shaft; all of these parts being of a type now in generaluse.

To one side of "the frame 1, is hinged a yoke-shaped. frame 7, whichextends over and above the fly wheel 5, and at the for ward end'of't-his frame is journaleda shaft 8, carrying a friction wheel 9, adapted tol0.isalso secured upon the friction wheel shaft, which meshes with agear wheel 11, secured to a stub shaft 12, j'ournaled upon one side ofthe frame 7, and to'the gear Wheel '11, is'pivotal'ly secured theforward end of the'piston rod 13, of an air compressing cylinder 14,which is of a style in common use, and therefore requires no furtherillustration or description. A pipe 15, extends from the rear ei'id ofthe cylinder 14, and preferably connects with a tube 16,

contact with the said fly wheel. A pinion forming an extension of oneof'the journals of the said cylinder, and a pipe 17 connects this tubewith a storage tank '18. The pipe 15 has an ordinary check valve 19,which prevents back pressure in the cylinder 14:.

A pipe 20 extendsfromthe rear end of the storage tank to a pressure gage21, on the tank to a sight feed cup-.23, also secured to the dash board.The sight feed cup comprisesa glass cylinder of suitable size, which isclosed at top and bottom by caps 24. and

251respectively.v The pipe 22 entersthe cup.

"place the tank in such apositi'on that the mixture will feed bygravity, the same may.

be forced out by .air .under' pressure'. A tube 28 extends from the; topcap: 24 to which it is'secured, through the bottom cap.

" 25.} The lowerv end of thetube-is threaded and a nut 29 .is screwedthereon, againstthe 7 bottom cap, thus clamping the parts of the, cuptogether, Thenut 29has, a threaded extension, .to which .a union v30'iss'crewed, which couples thereto a pipe-31, the 0p-.

* posite end offwhich isj'connected to a fourway 'distributer 32, whichwill'presently be fully described. An= aperture 33 is.formed tube 34 issecured' any suitable manner, to the cap .24, so as tosurroundthetube28,

vin the tube 28, near its upper end, and a and extends to withinfaslight distance-of the bottom "of the cup. A space of suitable width isleft between-thetubes28"and'34,

and a small vent hole'35 is formed in;

tube 34, near its-upper end,. I v

:- h 's pp y-p pe 6 which-is opened to admit a charge-of the} explosivemixture to the sight feedcup, vand th'epipe 22 connecting the saidcuP-Withitlie ini-position tobe' pressed by the .foot oftheattendantyand when this stem isfpress'ed}v v the valve 37 is openedandair under pres :,sure1ais admitted to the sight" feedcup through the,pipe 22, forcing the charge of explosive-mixture therein,-up through the"outside tube 34, through the -aperture 33, and into the tube 28, whenceit passes through th'e pipe 31 to the distributer. The vent hole 35, atthe topof the tube 34, permits-the escape of the air when the explosivemixture is rising in the cup, whereas ifthe j vent wer'e not present themixture wouldbe prevented from rising in the sight feed cup,

I and would thus interfere with the filling of the cup.

-'.;-,The distributer 32 coinprisesa cylindricalv ,lrasiiig orreceptacle, having four vequi-distaut-threaded holes through itsperiphery, inwhich are screwed "nipples 39, the inner 'ends'oj whichform seats-for valves 4640 T40 and 40,which are substantially of hellcrank shape, and are each-centrally pivoted between a pair totem 41,formed on'theinterior of the distributor] Thesevalves are normally heldagainst theifseats, by suit- .jwwa r able springs-42, and their .freeends are posit-ion to lbe engagedsuccessively by galrotary cam43,;having a depending hollowf 'stem 44, which 'extendsthrough a. hub 45in g the bottom oflthe-distribut'er The operat- "'ing'iface ofthef'cam'isz of suchlength that befor'ees'caping' the endof one valve,it en gages and opens the'nextisucc'eeding valve, the purpose of whichwill be explained here-.

inafter, Thus one outlet from the distributer isalways open; To thenipples 39 are connected, in any suital') le manner, pipes 46,

"47, '48,}and 49, which connect respectively .with' theengines A, 13,0,and D,-commu'ni cation between the engines and the distribu-Yterbeing'efiectedby the engagement of."

the cam 43,= with the ta'ilsiof the'valves,

whereby theyare rocked on their'pivots and pipes are rovided, adjacentto the engines,

thu moved away" from their 'seats .The

with chec valves X. Astufling-hox 50 is' screwed upon the end of thehubf45,

upon'the end of the "stem 44,-which projects through this box, isrigidly screwed 'a disk'51, from the under side of which pro-* jects'twopins'52' and 53- of unequal length,

which are adapted to extend into a'recess' 54, in'the edge ofasim'ilardisk 55, which. isrigidly secured upon the shaft 56,- oi'a timer .57,which is ofa type in common use, and comprises a fiber ring 58,-halvingfour u g equi-distant contacts 58 from which screws '59-extend outthrough ther-ing, and

jare provided with wire clamping nuts 60.

Upper JandloWer plates Gland-.62 respective1y',-,inclose'the ring, and ahub 63 is secured-to the shaft 56', having a 'bifura ycated "arm' 64in'which is pivotallymounted 'aspring actuated arm 65, carrying acontact gear69, which meshes with a bevel gear 70,

of the same diameter, which is secured upon the rear end of-the camshaft 6 of the engines, and while I- have illustrated a type of enginein which theintake valves 'are located on one side andfthe exhaustvalveon the other, thus-requiring two cam shafts,

it is apparent thatilthegresult is just the same when the deviceisfconnected to enginesJ havingal-l the valves. on'one side,'-and; con

sequently -,b.u't= a single cam shaft; the

gears-69.v and 70 are of the same diameter, the speed .of the timershaft is identicalzw-ith that of the'cam, shaf andjtheitimbrf'i timedrelatively to: madame-shaft; that itcloses a circuit through thebattery,'pr {nagneto, as the case may be, and the spark plug of eachengine, 1 at the instant the engine is ready to'be fired.

-'-Upon;opposite sidesof the i bottom of the I cam shaft.

distributer 32 are secured cam tracks 71,

which are of the form shown in Fig. 5, and these tracks rest uponrollers 72, mounted in the bifurcated ends of posts 73, which aresecured to the timer by sorews 74, which pass through the same and intothe said" posts. When the rollers engage the ends 7 5 of the tracks, thedistributer 32 is iniits lowest position, the clutch disks 51 and 55 arein engagement, and the cam 43 is turned. in unison with the timer shaft,but whenthe timer is turned to advance the spark,

as the engines gain speed, the rollers 72 ride underthe cam portionsofthe tracks, and

.lift the distributor so that thedisk 51 is lifted out. of engagementwith the disk- 55, and the cam and valves are rendered inoperative. Whenthedistrib'uter is lowered again for the purpose of starting the engines, the longer pin 53 of the. clutch disk 51 first engages the faceof the disk 55,

the disk 51 is then turned manually in a backward direction, and as thepin 53 passes the disk 55, the disk 51 drops untilvthe shorter theadjacent end of the recess 54 of pin 52 strikes the face of the disk 55,as

shown in Fig. 10, and the pin 53 extends. partially into the recess54,.in position to be engaged by the opposite end of the said recess,and as the disk 51 is still further turned the short pin 52 drops intothe recess 54, and at the same time the pin 53 is engaged by theadjacentend of the saidrecess, j

and the two disks are locked in engagement with each other.

length of said'pins makes it'impossible for them to pass the recess"54,- without. the

longer pin being engaged by the end-of said recess.

The cam 43 and disk 51 are turned manually by a rod 76, which is rigidly'secured' .to the cam 43, and extends outthrough .the

top of the distributer. The upper end of the rod is provided with a knobor disk 77, for turning the cam and disk 51,-and this knob is preferablyprovidedwith four indicating marks or notches-78," at equi-distantpoints.

around its circumferential edge, which may i be numbered in thesa-merelative order in which the engines are fired, and these indicatingmarks register'with a pointer 79 Se cured to the dash board. In thisway, when the disk 51 is locked to the disk 55, the knob 77, will alwaysindicate the engine thatis tov enters the 81.

This arrangement pro vides a clutch for positively and quickly lockingthe disks together as the unequal A'branch pipe 83 connects with thepipe 31'near its'connection-with the distributer, and this branch pipeis provided at its upper end with an ordinary valve-controlled oil cup84, by means of which lubricating oil may be conveyed to thed-istributer, .and' by turning compressed air intothe distributer, thisoil is driven into the engines, and a quick. and .convenient manner oflubricating them is therebyprovided.

The operation of he starter is as follows: Assumingthatt'hedistributeris raised by the engagement-of the rollers 72' with the" cam tracks 71,and. that thedisks 51 and 55 are consequently-out of engagement witheach other, the attendant first gives the timer a. partialrotatiom. bymeansof asuitable lever 85, which'n oves the rollers 72 from underthecam portions ofthe tracks and allows the distributer to descend. Thelonger pin 53 of the disk 51 thencontacts. with the face'of the disk55,'and by turning'the disk the recess 54 of the disk 55, and is engagedbythe opposite end of the recess asv the shorter pin 52 drops intothe-said recess.

The cam 43lisnowlocked to the timer shaft, I and the knob 77 indicatesthe engine that is ready to be fired, whilethe cam- 43 is in engagementwith the'valve which opensthe pipe leading to the said engine. The valve36 is then ,opened'to admit'a charge of'explosive mixture to the sightfeed cup23, and

" the rod-38.0f the valve 37 is depressed, per- .mitting air underpressure to pass from the tank 18 through thepipe 22 to the sight feedJieup, expelling the explosive mixture therein out through the pipe-31to the distributer,

and assuming that the engines are fired in successive order, and thatthe piston of the engine D is on the"firing.stroke, the cam 43 hasengaged the valve 40 and opened'communication with the said engine D,through the pipe 49, and the charge of explosive mixture isidriventhrough the said pipe to the said engine. The air raises the pressure.

in this engine and may force its piston down, but before the exhausttakes place the cam passes to the next valve 40, which openscommunication with the engine C, whose piston hasmoved, toward thefiring point,

and the'air enters the said engine C, driving 51 in a reverse direction,the' pin 53 enters 1 its piston down, and' thereby raising thepistonofthe engine D to. the firing point, at

which instant the timer forms a circuit through the spark plug'of saidengine and the batteries, causing an explosion which drives saidp'iston'down andbrings'the pistonof the next succeeding engine C to thefiring point, thus starting the engines. After the. engines have gainedsufficient speed, the

. spark current may be switched into the magneto, 'as will beunderstood, where the"machine'is supplied with-one. and the timer" isturned to "advance the spark, thereby lifting i the distributer, whichdisconnects the clutch claim as new disks 51 and 55, and puts thedistributer and cam 43 out of Operation. Under proper-con ditions,however, the engine D may be fired 1 gine's and pipes connectingsaidoutlets and saidpnipples; a rotary cam for successively operating saidvalves; means connected with the cam shaft for operating said rotarycam;

' ter.

3.In, a starter for gasolene enginesas engines;- valves for normallyclosing said outlets; a rotarycam for successively engaging sa1d valvesto open communication between vthe distributer and engines; a 'sightfeed cup; -a pipe connecting said cup-with a supply of explosivemixture; a valve insaid plpe for determining the quantity of the--mixture admitted to the cup;-a pipe connecting the cup with thedistributer; and means for-delivering air under pressure to said cup,"

whereby the mixture is" forced into the distributer and through theopenvalve to an-..

engine.

2. Ina starter for =gasolene engines as specified, the combination withthe engines, and the cam shaft, of an explosive mixture distributer,having outlet nipples corre-" sponding to the number of engines andpipes connecting said nipples withthe, engines;

valves for normally closing the inner ends of and means fordeliveringcharges of explosive mixture under pressure to saiddistribuspecified, the combination with'the engines and the cam shaft,ofa distributer having equidistant outlets corresponding to the numberof engines; spring-pressed Valves in the distributer which normallyclose said outlets; a rotary cam for successively engaging said valvesto move them away from-the outlets; and means connecting said' cam withthe camshaft of the engines for operating said cam.in unison with thesaid cam shaft; a sight feed cup; a valved pipe conmeans for normallyclosing connection be a predetermined time relatively. tothe formv ingof acircuitby said timer; a-clutchconnection betweensaid cam and saidtimer fshaft; means for disconnecting the clutch,'- comprisingrollers onthetimer casing, and

necting said cup with a supply of explosive mixture; a pipe connectingsaid cup with the distributer; a pipe for connecting said cup with asource, of air under pressure; and

tween said cup and said air source.

4. In astarter for gasolene engines as 7 specified, the combination withthe engines, 60

the cam shaft, and a timer geared to rotate in unison with said camshaft, of a distribu ter having outlets corresponding to-ithe number ofengines; valves which normally closethe outlets, and pipes connectingthe. outletswith the engine;a rotary cam'for" of the distributer, whichrest upon said rollsiveIy; a hollow stem on said cam which exfordisconnecting the clutch.

successively saidvalves; a clutch.

mechanism for connecting-said cam withithe shaft I of .saidtimer; meansconnected with the timerfor disconnecting- "said, clutch Y mechanism;and means for delivering e for gasolene engines as es," I

timer, of a distributer above said timer; op Y pos'itely disposed camtracks on the'bottom ers; pipes connecting said distributer with theengines;'-valves in the di stributer for normally closing the outletstosaid pipes;a

rotary cam for opening the valves succestends through the bottom of thedistributer,

and receives the upper end of the timer shaft;'a clutch, one member ofwhich is-Lse- I cured to the said stem, while the other memher issecured to the timer shaft; said clutch members being disconnectedby theengagement of therbllers with the cam tracks when the timer is partiallyrotated ;-and means-for delivering charges of an explosive mixture-funder pressure to sa'id distributer.

In a' starter for gasolene engines as" specified, thefcombination withthe engines and the cam shaft of 'a distributer, pipes connecting thesame with the engines; valves for normally closing the pipes; a rotarycam for opening said valves successively; means said cam. in unison withthe said cam shaft;

connected with the camshaft ,for rotating a sight feed cup; a valvedpipe connecting I said cup with a supply of explosive '-mix ture; a pipeconnecting said cupwith the distributer; a valved pipe connecting saidcup with a source of air underpressure; a

clutch connection between the rotary cam= and the'rotating meanstherefor; andjmeans 7. In va starter for gasolene engines as ing devicesof said engines, an a source of,

electrical power; a distributer; pi es; 0011- which normally close saidpipes; a' rotary cam for successively opening sajid'valves at nectingthe same with. the engines; valves 1" cam; tracks on the distributer,said rollers being adapiedtoengage the cam tracks and liftthe'distributer when the timer is givena partial rotation; andmeans fordelivering charges of explosive mixture under pressure .to saiddistributor 8. In a starter for gasolene engines as specified, thecombination with the-engines and the cam shaft, of an explosive mixturedistributer, comprising a-receptacle having outlets corresponding to thenumber of engines; spring pressed, pivotally mounted valves in thedistributer, which normally close the outlets; pipes connecting theoutlets with the engines; a rotarycam' for opening said valvessuccessively; means connected with the camshaft of'the engine forrotating said cam in unison with the said cam shaft; a sight feed cup; avalved pipe I connecting said cup with a supply of explosive mixture; apipe connecting said cupwith the distributer; a pipe connecting the cupwith a source of air under pressure; a valve in said pipe; and means'fordisconnecting the cam from its operating means.

9; In a starter for gasolene englnes as specified, the combination withthe'engines and the cam shaft, of a 'distributer; pipes connecting thedistributor with the 'englnes; a sight feed cup; a valvedpipe'connecting the cup with a supply of explosive mixture; a pipeconnectingthe cup with the distribu ter; a valved pipe connectingthecu-p with a source of air under pressure; valves for controlling theoutlets from the distributer; 3

and means connected with the said cam shaft for'operating said valves. 7

- 10. In a starter for gasolene engines as "specified, the combinationwith the engines 7 and cam shaft, of a distributer connected by pipeswith the engines; valves insaid distribute'r; a cam for operating thevalves, a timer in circuit with the sparking system of said engines;gears connecting the timer with the'cam shaft tocause the timer torotatein unison with the cam shaft; a disk on the timer shaft having acircumferential .re cess; a disk connected to the cam havingpins adaptedto lie insaid recess to lock the disksin engagement; means connectedwith the timer for raising the distributer to dis- Gopies of this patentmay be obtained for five cen'cs each, by addressing the sparking systemof the outlets of operating engage the disks; and means for deliveringexplosive mixture under pressure to the (118-.

tributer.

11. In a starter for gasolene engines as specified, the combination withthe engines, a cam-shaft; a timer in circuit with the said engines,gears connecting the timer with the cam shaft to cause the timer torotate in unison with the cam shaft, and a distributr connected withtheengines, havingvalves for controlling said distributer; of a cam forsaid valves, having a stem extending throu h the bottom of thedistributer; a disk on said stem havingtwo depending pins of unequallength; a disk on the timer shaft having a circumferential recessadapted to receive the pins to lock the disks in on agement; means foruncoupling the, dis s; a

sight feed cup connected with a supply'of v explosive mixture and with asource of air under pressure; and a pipe connecting said feed cup withthe distribut'er.

12. In a starter for gasolene engines as.

tube secured to the top cap and extending through the bottom cap, havingan aperture connecting said near its upper end; a pipe tube with thedistributer; a second tube connected to the top cap and surrounding thefirst 'tube, said second tube extending to within a'short-distance ofthe bottom cap, an intervening space being left between said tubes; apipe connecting the feed cup with a source of explosive mixture; and apipe connecting said cupwithha source of air under pressure. 1

v In testimony whereof I affix my slgnature in presence of twowitnesses. 1

- HARRY MASON.

Witnesses:

G. ,SARGENT ELLIOTT, ADELLA M. Ifowns.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

